Agricultural implement



April 28,I 1931. M. ROMERA AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 21. 1929 INVENTOR Mln/5L OMARA ATTORNEYS.

April 28, 1931. M, ROMERA 1,802,536

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed May 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR. l ./A/vua Fa/04 5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 28, 1931 MANUEL ROMERA, 0F GASTR-ovlllliLE,Y CALIFORNIA 'AGBICULTRAL IMPLEMENT Application led May 21, 1929. Serial No. 364,870.

My invention relates Ato improvements in agricultural implements, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described vand claimed.

'5 It is customary to cut the artichoke plants down to the roots each year and then to let the new plants grow from the old roots. This is done every year until about the fourth year, when the entire plant is dug up, roots and all.

10 It is necessary in cutting the plants from the roots to cut about two inches Vbelow the surfacev of the ground. At the present time, this is done by hand, and then it is necessary to cut all of the artichoke plants and heap them 15 together in one large pile. The artichokes are then left to dry, after which they are burned.

i The principal object of my invention -is to provide a machine which will cut the arti- O chokes the necessary two inches below the surface of the ground, and then will cut the plants into small particles, after which the cut pieces are dropped back upon the ground; In this way the cut plants can'be used as a 225 fertilizer for the ground, because they will soon rot and will disintegrate back into the soil. i

If desired. a trench may be drug by the machine, and the cut plants dropped into the trench. The device alsohas means for covering the trench over with dirt. A different kind of cutting blade is used when the entire plant and roots are removed.

In a co-pending application on an agricul* l Serial No. 443 ,449 filed April 1l, 1930, I show a device for cutting artichokes into small pieces, shaking the dirt from these pieces, and then dropping the pieces upon the ground where they will act as fertilizer. In the present form of the invention I show, in addition to the features just mentioned, a. device for forming a trench for receiving the cut artichokes, after which the trench is 4r covered over.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specication proceeds, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the claims. 5 My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which tural implement Figure I is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a side view of a portion of the device Figure 4 is a perspective view of another portion of the device;

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of other parts of lthe'device;

Figure v7 is a transverse section through the conveyor; and y Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the knives.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a frame l which is supported by front wheels 2 `and rear wheels 3.

' The front wheels are used foi` guiding the frame, and are connected to a tongue 4 to whichvatractor may be applied if desired.

The frame l carries a conveyor' indicated generally at A (see Figure 2).v This conveyor is pivotally supportedrby a shaft 5 that in turn is journaled in the frame l. The

front end of the conveyor is raised or lowered by means of a link 6, a bell crank lever 7, a link 8, and a locking lever 9 that is swingable over a notched When the device semi-circular member l0. is in operative position, the

front end of the conveyor A is lowered so as to dispose a cutting knife l1 approximately two inches below the surface l2 of the ground. Figure l shows how the knife extends at an angle with respect to the direction of movement, and Figure 4 shows how the knife is secured to the conveyor A.

The left hand of the ground. It is obvious that the device may be used for sired. I have will make a more extends at right movement.

The cut plants that are secured cutting other plants if defound that a slaiiting knife efficient cut than one which angles to the direction of are dropped upon laths 15 to the knife l1 and extend back to an endless spiked feeder indicated generally at 16. The movement of the device will cause the cut plants to ride up on the laths and onto the spiked feeder. Just before the plants reach the feeder 16, they pass under cutting knives 17 that are carried by a shaft 18. These knives cut up the large plants into smaller parts.

Figure 4 clearly shows the feeder 16 as being provided with prongs 19 that engage with the plants for carrying them with the feeder. lt will also be noted from Figure 4 that the feeder has open spaces through which the dirt can drop back onto-the ground.

The plants are conveyed back to a spiked drumor roller 20 which cooperates with the feeder 16 for forcing the plants vbetween two rolls or feed rollers 2-1 and `22 (see :Figures 1 and 2). These last two rolls force'the plants into a cutter 23, and the latterfdrop them into a chute 24 that in turn conveys them backtothe 0round. i

If desired, a plowshare 25 may be lowered into'the ground for digging a trenchin which the cut plants are dropped. This plowshare can be followed hy a-secondplowshare 25 that will cover up the trench with dirt. In iFigure 3 I have shown'tlie plowshares-25andf26 as being mounted upon a bar 27 that in turn is carried by bell crank levers 28. The le- Vers yare connected to a. rod 29 that may be moved `into adjusted position by a locking lever 30 (see F'igurer2). Figure 3 shows the plowshares 25 and 26 disposed, above the ground 12, while Figure 2 shows'thein. in operative position.

It is best now to describe how the different parts are connected together so 'as to-operate whenlthe device'moves over the ground. The cutter 23 is mounted upon a 'shaft 31 (see Figure 1), and this shaft may Abe rotated by any means such as, `for example, av rchain and sprocket 32, that drives off `from one of the rear wheels 3. The 'shaft 31 is turned in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2, and this rotates a shaft 32 that carries the lower roller 22. fears'33operatively connect the shafts together. The upper roller 21 is connected vto the lower one 22-by gears 34 The lowerniost gear 34'is mounted on A.the shaft 32 and is driven by this shaft.

The lshaft 5 is connected to the shaft 32 by a chain and sprocket 35 (see Figure 1). The shaft in turn carries sprockets upon which the endless conveyor belt 16 isniounted. The shaft 5 is also operatively connected to a shaft 36 carrying the spiked `roller 20 by lmeans of gearing 37, which include an idler gear (see Figure 2). The --shaft 18 is operatively connected to a shaft 38 (see 'Figure 2) by means of a cha-in and sprocket 39. VIn Figure 7 l show one of the sprockets 39 as being integral with a gear 40 that-inturn is rotated by a gear 41 that is mounted upon a shaft 42. The shaft 42 also carries the front sprockets 43 of the feeder 16. It Will beseen from this construction that all of the parts are operated by the wheel 3, and that they are rotated in the proper direction for carrying` the plants from the knife' 11 and discharging them in small pieces through the chute 24.

From the foregoing description of the variousparts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The machine Iismovedacross the eld and will cut the `plants below the surface of the ground; yThese plants will be conveyed back to the cutter and then will be dropped back upon the ground by means of the chute 24. If the operator wishes to bur-y the -cut pieces, he can drop 1the plowsha-res 25 and 26S-into operative position. The-device will-:save the time now consumed fin stack-ingfthefplants-in high :piles and allowing them to dry before setting fire to ithem. The field will be v`perfectly 'level rand smooth vafter the device has been moved Vover it.

VIf the operator wisheseto-remo-ve the plants by their roots, a knife I44 of the-shape shown in xFigure v8 `is used in place of 4the knife A11. The laths 15 `willfbe[connected tothe fknifev44 by inserting lbolts through vthelaths -and into openings 45 in theknife. The -laths ywillli'ft theentire plant with-its roots-upon the endless spiked feeder 16,andthe same'operation will be repeated as when cutting the plants a slight-distance below thegground.

Although I have vshown 'and described oneeinbodimentof my invention, it'is to be understood that the `saine Vis susceptible of various chang'es, and'l reserve the right .to employ such vchanges as may come within thescope ofthe-invention as claimed.

I-claim: Y

f1. -An agricultural rimplement comprising a frame movable over the ground, a conveyor adjustabl-y Ecarried .by Vsaid frame, a knife carried ibysaid conveyor andL being designed to-cut plants ata point below Ythe surface of theground, a cutter, said conveyor carryingthe cut-plants to the cutter, means foi-discharging the plants after they have Apassed through thecutter, a fmeinber carriedby said frame for digging a'trench for receiviugthe plants from the Ydischarge means, asecond member for covering the plants with earth, and means foradjusting both members.

2. An agricultural implement comprising afranie niovableover theground, a conveyor for carrying plants and having openings for permitting dirt'tolrop from the :plants onto the fground, a knife for cutting the plants, a cutter disposed between the knife and the conveyor :for cutting the gplants as :they movey onto the conveyor, a secondcutter dispos-ed at the opposite end of theconveyor, and a dis4 charge chute communicating with the second cutter.

3. An agricultura-l implement comprising pair of feed rollers disposed at the opposite end of the conveyor, a spiked drum cooperating with the conveyor for feeding the plants to the rollers,`a second cutter for receiving the plants from the rollers, and a discharge chute communicating with the second cutter.

4. An agricultural implement comprising a frame movable over the ground, a conveyor carried by said frame-and having openings therein for permitting dirt to fall therethrough, a knife disposed at the front of the conveyor and being inclined With respect to the direction of movement of the frame, means for adjusting the conveyor for causing the knife to cut the plants beneath the surface of the ground, a cutter disposed between said knife and said conveyor for cutting the plants and for feeding them onto the conveyor, a pair of feed rollers disposed at the opposite end of the conveyor, a spiked drum cooperating With the conveyor for feeding the plants to the rollers, a second cutter for receiving the plants from the rollers, a discharge chute communicating with the second cutter, a trench-digging member disposed adjacent to the discharge chute, and a second member for covering the trench With dirt.

5. An agricultural implement comprising a frame movable over the ground, a conveyorcarried bysaidframe and having openings therein for permitting dirt to fall therethrough, a knife disposed at the front of the conveyor and being inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the frame, means for adjusting the conveyor for causing the knife to cut the plants beneath the surface of the ground, a cutter disposed betvveensaid knife and said conveyor for cutting the plants and for feeding them onto the conveyor, a pair of feed rollers disposed at the opposite end of the conveyor, a spiked drum cooperating With the conveyor for feeding the plants to the rollers, a second cutter for receiving the plants from the rollers, a discharge chute communicating with the second cutter, a trench-digging member disposed adjacent to the discharge chute, a second member for covering the trench With dirt, and means for moving said members into operative or inoperative positions.

MANUEL ROMERA. 

